The difference between prisms & pyramids.

Its all about how you slice it!

Pyramids and prisms are specific kinds of polyhedra. The word polyhedra is the plural form of polyhedron.

A polygon is a 2-dimensional shape.

A polyhedron is a 3-dimensional shape.

Presto! A triangular prism!

Presto! A triangular pyramid!

Presto! A square prism!

Presto! A square pyramid!

A prism is made of congruent shapes.

A pyramid is made of similar shapes that get smaller and smaller.

If you know the names of common polygons, then naming a prism or pyramid will be easy for you.

Look at the polygon on the bottom of the shape.

This polygon is a rectangle.

This shape is a rectangular prism.

This shape is a rectangular pyramid.

This is a pentagon.

This is a pentagonal prism.

This is a pentagonal pyramid.

This is an octagon.

This is an octagonal prism.

This is an octagonal pyramid.

If you know the common polygons and if you know the difference between a prism and a pyramid, naming these shapes is easy.

The only unique name that you have to remember is the cube.

A cube is a specific kind of rectangular prism.

A rectangular prism that has 6 congruent faces is called a cube.

A rectangular prism that has 6 congruent faces is called a cube.

A rectangular prism that has 6 congruent faces is called a cube.

A rectangular prism that has 6 congruent faces is called a cube.

A rectangular prism that has 6 congruent faces is called a cube.

A rectangular prism that has 6 congruent faces is called a cube.

The end.